iHeartRadio Awards Fashion Recap
A look back and predictions for tonight
Tonight, March 17, are the iHeartRadio Awards. The iHearts honour the annual performance of artists on iHeartMedia radio stations across the United States in addition to a few fan-voted categories.
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In addition to being the show’s most celebrated artist — excluding 2025’s outstanding results Taylor has both the most wins (25) and nominations (53) of any act since the award’s inception in 2014 — Taylor is also tied with Morgan Wallen for most nominations of the evening at 10.
Her nominations include the following:
Artist Of The Year
Pop Artist Of the Year
Best Collaboration (“Fortnight” ft Post Malone)
Favourite Surprise Guest (Travis Kelce, London) [NEW]*
Favourite Tour Tradition (“22” hat) [NEW]*
Favourite Tour Tradition (Surprise Songs) [NEW]*
Best Lyrics (“Fortnight” ft Post Malone)*
Best Music Video (“Fortnight” ft Post Malone)*
Favourite Tour Style (Eras Tour)*
Favourite On Screen (Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour [Taylor’s Version])*
* denotes fan-voted awards
[NEW] denotes categories introduced for the 2025 ceremony
One award we know she will be walking away with this evening is “Tour Of the Century.” This is an inaugural trophy iHeart introduced to honour the success of the Eras Tour.
Another bit of exciting news? On March 10, USA Today reported that exclusive footage from the opening weekend of the Eras Tour filmed in Glendale, AZ would air the night of the iHearts. The tidbit about the performance being from the beginning of the tour ties in neatly with the iHearts landing on the exact two year anniversary of the tour’s opening night (March 17, 2023). We don’t yet know which song the taping will entail, the timing from opening weekend eliminates the possibility of the performance being from The Tortured Poets Department as that section was only added to dates following May 2024.
But before we can discuss tonight’s award show - let’s review Taylor’s fashion history at this particular event.
Taylor has previously appeared at the iHeartRadio Awards six times between 2015 and 2023.
2015 in Kaufmanfranco
Taylor wore many Kaufmanfranco gowns to some very memorable award shows in her past including 2010’s Grammy ceremony when she took home her very first Album of the Year trophy for Fearless. An LBD is a wardrobe staple for Taylor and giving it a sparkly finish was just the right amount of “extra” needed for this type of awards ceremony in its early days of establishing ground. I liked the way her Tamara Mellon heels echoed the graphic cutout shapes of the dress.
A fun fact? Taylor went on to wear a very similar version of this dress, but in bodysuit form, on the 1989 Tour which would kick off a few short months later. An Easter egg before we hardly knew ye, perhaps.
In addition to attending the show, Taylor also performed during it. But not one of her own songs! She played guitar for Madonna’s performance of “Ghosttown”.
2016 in Saint Laurent
Here, Taylor’s outfit feels like an extension of last year’s look. 2015’s sparkly black LBD gets pants plus an oversized belt added to it and the strappy sandals were also swapped out for chunky peep toe booties. The effect gives Grease’s “Bad Sandy” — with a glittery finish. Though I prefer the sleeker shoes of the year prior, I do have fond memories of this moment in general as I actually selected this exact look from the Saint Laurent Fall 2016 runway as a backup in my predictions post.
2019 in Rosa Bloom
An excellent red carpet example of Taylor’s love of a high/low. This sparkly romper by high street U.K.-based brand Rosa Bloom retailed for £185 and was paired with jewelry by Jacquie Aiche (a brand you might recognize even now as Taylor has worn a number of their ‘evil eye’ pieces in street style moments since 2024), This Is State Property, Stefere, and EF Jewelry. But the real kicker (pun intended) are those butterfly Sophia Webster heels which stood in as a fashionable Easter egg for the technicolour pastel Lover fashion that would come just a month after this ceremony.
2020 in Anthropologie
Speaking of Lover, the following year Taylor accepted the trophy on behalf of this album in the pop category. The iHearts are normally held in March but the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated not only a postponement six months later to September but also a broadcasting shift. Taylor accepted her award virtually, opting to wear a $138 tie dye romper from Anthropologie. Cozy and still very on theme to the aesthetic of the album. Perfectly done.
2021 in Hemant & Nandita
In a similar fashion (is this thing on? *taps mic*) to the year previous, Taylor accepted the Pop Album of the Year award for folklore remotely. Her richly textured waist tie dress was by a new-to-her brand — Hemant & Nandita — that takes inspiration from Indian tradition and culture in its embroidery. During her speech Taylor said, “We all needed to escape into stories … the fact that you chose this album [to do that] is an honour. You really wrapped your arms around it. The way that - someday - we’ll get to wrap our arms around each other when we see each other again.” In a waist-up world of conference COVID calls, the smoked out makeup and crown braid were the most impactful at driving home the folklore woodsy feel.
2023 in Alexandre Vauthier
Perhaps the most dramatic departure we’ve seen from Taylor style-wise and certainly at this particular awards show. I am always here when it comes to experimenting with FASHUN. This is what makes fashion fun and fascinating. On this occasion, Taylor skipped the red carpet and only appeared inside the ceremony. This meant that photos of her from the night were exclusively when she was seated or behind a podium while accepting an award. I do think that the nature of this particular lewk would have benefited greatly from intentional posing on the red carpet. It’s an ensemble that I believe needs more dynamic movement to really “sell” it. The hood! The all-in-one “poots” situation (that’s “pant boots” for you - a technical term)! I think these might have won more people over were they posed on a red carpet. That said, the most touching moment of the night was Phoebe Bridgers’ speech to introduce Taylor’s acceptance of the Innovator Award. I (still!) get sniffly at “The World (Taylor’s Version)”.
Of course, the lingering question keeping us all up is what, if anything, is going to happen tonight. Between a confirmed acceptance speech for a previously announced special award and the premiere of exclusive footage from the debut of the Eras Tour, an appearance from Taylor is certain.
Will Taylor appear at the awards in person?
We don’t typically receive physical confirmations for Taylor’s award show appearances — tonight being no exception. However, given the confirmation she’ll receive an award ahead of the ceremony, we know she will appear in some form. The question will be whether she’ll accept her special award and introduce the Eras Tour footage from the stage or via a pre-recorded virtual speech. I feel like the former is not out of the question!
What will happen if she shows up?
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Taylor appearance if there weren’t questions and excitement about what she might be planning next. The possible options?
The Extension Of “Eras”: Much of Taylor’s known activities for the evening center on her record-shattering Eras Tour. Both her special award and her filmed performance for the evening are in honour of the tour. We know that her final round of Eras dates in Vancouver, BC were filmed extensively across all three nights but we don’t yet know what final form they’ll take. Perhaps tonight is when we find out! An extended tour movie release that includes the Poets set? A tour documentary? Something else entirely? Surely something is to be done with that footage!
Taylor’s Versions: The two final instalments of Taylor’s re-records project — her 2006 eponymous debut and 2017’s reputation — are both still outstanding. The first four re-records dropped in pairs on odd years. First Fearless and RED in 2021 and then Speak Now and 1989 in 2023. Either of the (Taylor’s Versions) of her original discography could be announced at any moment but perhaps now, 2025, is the time for the remaining two to be released.
Something New: Given Taylor’s current prolific creative streak (four new albums and four re-records in five years) I also suspect that her 12th studio album is not off the table either. In fact, we were told as much in October 2024 via sources at Entertainment Tonight (a typically reliable publication for Taylor information). The outlet reported, “Taylor is hoping to put out new music and then take some time off together with Travis,” they said, adding, “She is … very busy with work and sorting out her upcoming plans.”
We know that Taylor has used an award show podium to announce new music before. First, Midnights at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2022 and more recently The Tortured Poets Department at the Grammys in 2024. Taylor has also used the iHearts as a fashionable launchpad for new era aesthetics as seen in the 2019 appearance which helped to launch us into Lover’s butterfly pastel fashion.
Nothing New: Of course, the night could be surprise-free. The evening could entail a gracious acceptance of a well-deserved award and the opportunity for fans to relive the joy of the Eras Tour via the airing of exclusive, serendipitously timed footage on the anniversary of the tour’s opening weekend. I know for me, with Eras somehow only three months in our rearview, I’m just excited to bask in the warmth of this tour again via this performance.
P.S. Bonus points to any debut / unreleased fans who caught the reference in the final title section. Wave from the comments if you know!
Your turn! I would love to know …
What was your favourite iHeartRadio appearance over the years?
What song do you think will be played from the opening weekend of the Eras Tour?
What do you think she’ll do tonight (if anything)?
The I Heart ? reference is GREAT. Made me laugh!
Unpopular opinion but I love the 2021 look... Taylor in a braid is adorable, and the dress matches her makeup and hair perfectly. The 2019 look is also so cute and I still remember seeing it back in 2019 and adoring it. ❤️
I really hope she makes an appearance but I won't mind if she doesn't announce anything. She got a lot of flak for it after the Grammys TTPD announcement. Though a green dress as an easter egg for a summer Debut TV release would be lovely!!
And I loved the I Heart? reference and so hope it's on Debut TV!!